NewDelhi: In a pithy but considered take on the axe-grinding debate around work hours, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra says one can “change the world in 10 hours” if work is done with one’s full focus. Too busy making a 90-hour work week, it seems, to make meaningful contributions to society. Speaking at the National Youth Festival in Delhi, he tactfully responded to the controversial remarks made by the Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), S.N. Subrahmanyan, who had suggested such a long working hours schedule.
The 90-Hour Workweek Debate
While promoting the ethic of relentless labour, however, Subrahmanyan also challenged the idea of downtime: “How long can you stare at your wife?” he wondered. He also suggested that employees should even sacrifice their Sundays in an effort to maximise productivity. The remarks have since sparked a barrage of discussion on social media, with a number of people criticising the pressure to work to these extremes in a time when burnout and work–life balance are major debates.
The ongoing debate on cheap construction vs. quality workmanship has now brought another voice, this time of Anand Mahindra. He did reaffirm his respect for business leaders like Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, who last year suggested that the country’s young people work only 70-hour weeks to increase growth but said productivity should not be based on hours worked but on outcomes.
‘I’ve never heard of working 40, 70, or 90 hours a week,’ he told me. It’s what you deliver. You can even change the world in 10 hours if your work is effective and you can focus.”
Smarter Work and the Good Decisions Matter
Mahindra is a staunch advocate for smarter work over harder work and stated that businesses need to create an environment for employees to make thoughtful decisions, rather than wilting from simply working uncompromising hours. “The best decisions are made by holistic, open minds—open to ideas around the world,” he said.
Moreover, he motivated professionals, such as technical and other managerial professionals, to learn art and culture for developing a wider creative mindset. This allows people to make better decisions and to look at challenges in a new way, Mahindra said.
Work-Life Balance: A Core for Decision-Making
Mahindra’s message, however, extended beyond business practices, and he advocated for a good work-life balance that will lead to better mental clarity and decision-making. “How will you get the right inputs for decisions if you don’t spend time with family, read books, or introspect?” he asked.
So, he tied this idea back to his company, Mahindra & Mahindra, and explained how stepping away from office routine is essential to understanding consumer needs. “How will we decide what the type of car is if we’re always at work and we’re not taking time away to be with our families or to observe other families?” We ask ourselves, ‘How will we know what truly resonates with them?””
Social Media: Feedback should be a window, not a time sink.
Mahindra also spoke about one question that is often asked of him: how can he manage to update his social media in between so many commitments? ‘He said his presence on X (formerly Twitter) is not a result of loneliness; rather, it’s the extreme value it has as a professional resource. ‘ I don’t even waste my time with X because I don’t have the time. I do spend time with my wife; she’s very beautiful. Social media is a good tool; it links me up to 11 million followers, and it gives me feedback from such a big number of people,’ he said.
Averting Burnout: The Way Forward
Subtly answering Narayana Murthy’s previous statement about the number of hours one is expected to work per week, and voicing again his respect for Infosys co-founder, Mahindra insisted the real debate should centre on creating an atmosphere that promotes creative thinking and quality, not simply forced counting of office hours.
He ended by asking that businesses focus on balanced leadership and environments that allow the thoughtful and impactful work. The quality of the outcome is what matters—it’s not the hours.” “The smarter, better-balanced work leads to innovation and to sustainable growth,” he said.
In an era where a healthy work-life balance is a cause for worry, Mahindra’s opinion is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about banging your head relentlessly; it is about focus, balance, and making meaningful impact.